The 2024 season of the FIA World Endurance Championship kicked off with the official Prologue, marking the prelude to the Qatar Airways Qatar 1812kms race this Saturday. This year, the category promises to be one of the most competitive in the 12-year history of the WEC, with the participation of 19 Hypercars and 18 LMGT3s from different manufacturers, competing in eight circuits around the world.
At the 5.418-mile circuit in Qatar, two test sessions were held. Most teams opted for the evening session, though the morning session had already set an intense pace. JOTA Porsche 963 team, with Norman Nato at the wheel of car No. 12, led the first session with a time of 1m41.822. Jenson Button, 2009 F1 world champion and now in the No. 38 JOTA, followed closely with a time of 1m43.206, in his return to the WEC since 2019.
(Image via:Porsche)
In the LMGT3 category, Nicolas Costa, making his debut in the WEC, driving the United Autosports McLaren 720s GT3 Evo No. 59, recorded the fastest time with 1m56.583. He was followed by Charlie Eastwood in the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R No.81 of TF Sport and Nico Pino, another outstanding Chilean driver, in the second McLaren of United Autosport, completing the top three.
During the night session, the Hertz Team JOTA once again stood out, this time with Callum Ilott setting a time of 1m40.541s in the Porsche No.12. Antonio Fuoco, driving the Ferrari AF Corse 499P No.51, was very close, with a time just 0.1s slower. Jenson Button in the Porsche No.38, and Antonio Giovinazzi in the Ferrari AF Corse No.51, also posted notable times.
In LMGT3, Gregoire Saucy of United Autosports led with a time of 1m54.480s, followed by the VISTA AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 driven by Davide Rigon, and the Akkodis ASP Lexus RC F, piloted by rookie Esteban Masson.
The evening session was marked by three red flags. The first was caused by a mechanical issue in the VISTA Ferrari 296 No.54, driven by Thomas Flohr. The second stoppage occurred when Harry Tincknell's Proton Competition Porsche 963 Hypercar No.19 got stuck in the gravel at turn 3. Finally, the third red flag was deployed due to a cat that apparently entered the track.
The tests will continue on Tuesday with sessions scheduled between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and then between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., local time.
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